Dense fluid cleaning centrifugal phase shifting separation process and apparatus
US6802961B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB08B3/06
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus and process for cleaning substrates using dense fluids under the influence of centrifugal force and dense fluid phase changes. A perforated centrifuge drum operates within a pressure vessel having drains and fill ports. System controls include a high optical sensor, a low optical sensor, a pressure transducer, and a thermocouple. An external dense fluid cleaning and management system exchanges dense fluid and gas with the pressure vessel via the drain and fill ports. Dense fluid centrifugal separations prevent pooling and supercooling of liquid carbon dioxide avoiding recontamination of the substrate. The present invention can perform solvent-aided separation processes including liquid-liquid, liquid-supercritical-fluid, froth flotation and centrifugal phase-shift separations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.